Fullers, Black Cab Stout (England) London family brewer Fuller's remains a beacon for quality beers brewed by a large, independent regional brewery. So it is great to see them seemingly going from strength to strength with major new supermarket listings for this stout, which has made the transition from seasonal cask ale to mainstream bottled product rather successfully. Pouring a very dark mahogany/black with a low-rise, tan head, the aromas are not aggressively roasted or malty, but have a lovely subtlety with some chocolate and rich red berry fruit. In the mouth it is substantial but medium-bodied, with some creamy cappuccino softness, then more chocolaty, roasted tones and a nice balance of bitterness and acidity that also leaves it fresh and, with its modest 4.5% ABV, eminently suppable too. Not a ground-breaker, but very classy stuff. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, £1.89, Asda, Waitrose.